And The Earth Moved: Romantic Comedy Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book 1) Read Free Page B

turns.
    I count to five, breathing deeply, channelling calm thoughts. It will take ages to reverse up the narrow lane to the pull in. Plus, what if I come bumper to bumper with some huge truck trying to get up to the quarry?
    I look at Charlie, climbing into his car, all denim-clad long legs. He pulls the driver’s door shut behind him. Is he going to drive off to the quarry once I’ve tentatively reversed my way down the track? I can’t make up my mind if I can trust him or not.
    I wait.
    Is he talking on the phone? Is he calling somebody to verify my story?
    Maybe he isn’t going to drive off after all.
    I select reverse and begin to manoeuvre. Feeling hot and bothered with concentration I risk a glance towards Charlie’s car.
    He’s driving off!
    I try to switch from reverse to first gear but crunch the gearbox loudly. I’m tempted to hit the horn but don’t want to draw attention to us even more. Ahead of me the brake lights come on at the back of Charlie’s 4x4 and he hops out and runs towards me.
    “What the hell are you doing to that car?”
    “Trying to reverse. I thought that would be obvious even to a CCIA investigator.”
    “Get out,” Charlie instructs.
    “You were going to drive off,” I protest. “I knew I couldn’t trust you.”
    “I was just winding you up. Go and get in my car and I’ll park this one, otherwise we’ll be here all day.”
    Feeling affronted I huff, “And I suppose, being a man, you can naturally drive and park much better than me.”
    “Gender has got nothing to do with it,” he replies, trying to fit into the driver’s seat and ending up with his knees somewhere around his nose.
    He tuts and feels around for the release catch to adjust the seat’s position, sliding it back as far as it will go to give him enough room to fit his legs into the car properly.
    I watch in reluctant admiration as he reverses the car at top speed and slings it into the pull-in fifty yards down the lane in what seems like little more than a few seconds. OK. Show-off. So he’s a better driver than me. Truth be told even Noddy in his little red cartoon car is probably a better driver than me too, so the bar isn’t set very high to start with, but CCIA Charlie certainly knows how to handle a vehicle.
    He sprints towards me and throws the car keys into my hands as he makes for the driver’s door of his 4x4. “Get in.”
    He has such a nice way with words.
    I clamber in next to him and reach for a seatbelt. “You mean you’re not letting me drive?” I ask, in mock disappointment.
    He glances at me and a smile creases his face. “Maybe some other time huh?” he replies as he slips the car into gear. “When I’m feeling brave.”
    A little further down the lane he pulls into a proper lay-by and switches off the engine before turning towards me.
    “So, you’re Amber. I was wondering when we’d get to meet.”
    He knows who I am. Of course he does. “Ennis asked me to keep an eye on you. So here I am.”
    “Here you are indeed.” He looks me up and down with eyes that take in every detail. “Even though I told him no when he asked if you could shadow me on this case because he doesn’t trust me.”
    “It’s not that…” I say. Thinking, well, actually it is that, but I don’t want to admit it.
    He quirks an eyebrow at me questioningly. “It doesn’t sound like it.”
    “He’s worried about all of this,” I try to explain. “About what happened to his brother and whether anyone else might be in danger.”
    He fixes me with a firm stare. “Does he have something going on he doesn’t want me to know about?”
    I shake my head. “No.” Well, I don’t think so…
    “Good. Then he’s got nothing to worry about has he? Maybe you should just go home and let me get on with my job.”
    “I promised him I’d do this,” I say in a quiet voice.
    “Promised?” he asks and then rubs a hand across his face in an impatient gesture . “ So how do you know Ennis McKarthy